Attorney Jacque Terlaje: I Will Not Withdraw Complaint against Msgr. James

By Janela Carrera
Pacific News Center
October 5, 2016

http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/local/11110

[statement from Attorney Jacque Terlaje]


Guam - Attorney Jackie Terlaje is vehemently refusing to withdraw a complaint filed against Msgr. James Benavente with the police and attorney general, pointing out that the complaint was filed with the catholic cemeteries board backing.

She's also responding to Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai's demands for the catholic cemeteries board to resign and allegations that the board defied him in alleging Msgr. James Benavente committed fraud.

Last Friday, moments after Msgr. James Benavente was cleared of wrongdoing during his tenure as the director of the catholic cemeteries, Attorney Terlaje released a board resolution to the media alleging that Msgr. James had misused cemeteries funds for his anniversary dinner back in 2014.

Archbishop Hon immediately rebuked Terlaje for issuing that board resolution and clarified that Msgr. James had committed no wrongdoing, that the previous board had authorized the use of the funds in 2014 and that Terlaje issued the resolution without obtaining the consent of every board member or the Archdiocese of Agana.

In her statement today, Terlaje says the board did unanimously authorize the board resolution and she says that despite threats from Attorney David Lujan to withdraw her complaint she “will not unilaterally withdraw a statement authorized by the board, the facts provided to the GPD and the AG are the truth, and I'm obliged as an officer of the catholic cemeteries to protect the funds entrusted to me by the deceased and the numerous catholic families who have buried their loved ones with the catholic cemeteries.”

You can read the full statement by clicking on the file below.